Ephesians 5:22-33: The Institution of Marriage
What is marriage? One mother says, ‘marriage is just a fancy word for adopting an overgrown male child who cannot be handled by his parents anymore.’ But speaking more seriously, modern views of marriage are descriptive not prescriptive. Here are some suggested definitions, ‘A more or less durable connection between a male and a female lasting beyond the mere act of propagation till after the birth of the offspring.’ Or including polygamy, ‘a relation of one or more men to one or more women that is recognized by law.’ Or more legal definitions, marriage exists to establish a legal...
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Truth in Love Conference – A Paradigm for Compassionate Engagement
Sunday Afternoon Session by Nick Clevely
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Truth in Love Conference – School of Grace – 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
Sunday Morning Session by Russell Cannons
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Truth in Love Conference – What Kind of Churches Must We Be?
Second Saturday Afternoon Session by Russell Cannons
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Truth in Love Conference- Transgenderism
Second Saturday Morning Session by Russell Cannons Please note this session concluded unexpectedly early.
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Truth in Love Conference – How did we get here? How did I Get here?
Friday Night Session by Russell Cannons
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The Objection of Homophobia
Introduction: A major reason why people will not become Christians and have less and less time for the Bible and Christianity is the objection of homophobia. It will not be long in any conversation about the bible today that someone will ask you, ‘Do you believe that gay people are going to hell?’ The accusation in the question is clear and a wrong answer will immediately shut down the conversation. For many today this is a gatekeeper issue, if you don’t tick the right box you are not worth continuing the conversation with. To disagree on this issue demonstrates...
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Reflections on the Nashville Statement
Introduction A few weeks ago a number of conservative evangelical leaders came up with the Nashville statement. It is a manifesto intended to summarise the traditional, biblical view on sexual identity. About 150 prominent evangelicals signed it, such names as R. C. Sproul; John Macarthur; Al Mohler; Rosaria Butterfield; John Piper; Wayne Grudem; J I Packer, and many others. It has created quite a stir and drawn a line in the sand. There have been many so called ‘Christians’ who have responded against it, it has brought the ‘progressives’ out of the woodwork in condemnation and is forcing Christians...
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Homosexual Marriage 4: Practical Engagement
Outline Home Work Introduction Given the newness of engaging with the problem of homosexuality in society in the Western world Christians are still struggling to know how to engage homosexuality in some of the complex everyday life situations. My goal in this message is not to give you a list of laws that you can apply in any situation but rather to try and demonstrate how to think through issues for yourself. You see, when one wanders into the realm of ethics we are faced with as many different situations as there are people, personalities, cultures, perspectives, etc. it...
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Homosexual Marriage 3: Compassionate Engagement
Outline Compassion Truth Introduction One good thing about the latest homosexual marriage legislation is…. We can now put away politics and get on with Evangelism. The homosexual contingent of society has been pushed into a ghetto around which we have wanted to build a fence, and all of our engagement with them is one of militant legislation and a media shouting match. This has hindered the gospel to an extremely broken and needy people group. I am not happy about the legalisation of homosexual marriage, it is my duty as a Christian to be a prophetic voice that tells...
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Homosexual Marriage 2: Examining the Texts
Outline Genesis 1-2 Sodom and Gomorrah Levitical law Paul Introduction There are several things you will hear when the bible enters into the discussion on homosexual marriage. Firstly, you will hear the comment that there are only a few verses in the bible that address the issue. Secondly, you will hear that the bible is speaking to only certain types of homosexual behaviour but is not addressing life-long loving unions, nor orientation. Thirdly, the trajectory set by the NT if taken to its logical conclusion in fact supports gay marriage. It is only in the last generation with the...
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Homosexual Marriage 1: Speaking the Truth in Love
Outline Issues Truths Texts Response Introduction Eighteen countries as of June 26th 2015 have legalised same-sex marriage. We are living in a time when things are the worst they have ever been on the question of homosexuality. John Piper writes about what is new in this trend of legislation, ‘What’s new is not even the celebration and approval of homosexual sin. Homosexual behaviour has been exploited, and revelled in, and celebrated in art, for millennia. What’s new is normalisation and institutionalisation. This is the new calamity.’ We have seen the flood of rainbows in the Media in support of...
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